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Welcome to Northwest Functional Neurology

Do you have a neurological condition that seriously affects or limits your quality of life?

Do you feel your spirit has been broken by your chronic health problems and lack of answers?

What we do

We work with complicated neurological and other health conditions with a brain-based approach.

We use in-office evaluations and leading-edge lab testing to thoroughly assess the function of your brain and nervous system, immune system, and other facets of your health.

By looking at how brain function intersects with other systems in the body we can begin to unravel complex health conditions and understand how best to assist with your care.

What to expect

At Northwest Functional Neurology we assess gait, balance, movement, inner ear function, and eye movements, as these are windows into the function and integration of various critical parts of the nervous system. We use this information to determine how best to help reduce your symptoms and improve your function.

The first experience: We know how important it is that you understand what we do. Plan on spending a good hour at this first appointment establishing your care and your relationship with Dr. Zielinski and his team. Your first visit includes a consultation, a complete history, a preliminary exam, and a variety of tests. It is also the time for you to receive feedback to your important questions. Also, often new questions come up during this initial experience, which we can help you answer.

Second experience: We assess gait, balance, movement, inner ear function, and eye movements, as these are windows into the function and integration of various critical parts of the nervous system. We use this information to determine how best to help reduce your symptoms and improve your function.

Third experience: During your third appointment, you and Dr. Zielinski will discuss in detail your plan of action, how frequently to schedule your visits, which exercises may be most beneficial for you, and a schedule for your rehabilitation exercises. This is also your time for input as to which direction you would like to see your care go.

Management phase: When a plan is in place, we insist patients schedule in advance according to the plan to best serve your recovery. Each plan varies according to your needs and your progress, and we make every effort to work with your work schedule, school schedule, or other responsibilities. We are confident, however, that as you see as the positive changes begin to take place you will come to regard your plan with our team at NW Functional Neurology as a top priority.

Lab testing

You may need lab testing to understand how any imbalances in health could be contributing to your condition. These tests may include:

a comprehensive blood panel

an expanded antibody panel that assesses which parts of the brain or body the immune system may be erroneously attacking, causing symptoms

food sensitivity testing

environmental sensitivity testing

adrenal salivary panels to assess how stress plays a role in your condition

hormone panels, and more.

What’s required of the patient

Dr. Zielinski conducts a thorough diagnostic exam of neurological health and health imbalances that may be contributing to your condition. He then creates a managment plan based on that information.

Although some of this management involves in-office rehabilitation techniques, the majority of the work will be up to the patient. You will be given exercises to perform at home every day, often several times a day. You will most likely be asked to make changes to your diet, sometimes rather dramatic changes, to support your immune and brain health. The use of supplements to dampen inflammation or act on various facets of brain function, adrenal function, or to restore integrity to the digestive tract (the seat of the immune system) may also be necessary.

Sometimes a patient whose condition is severe may need to consider serious lifestyle changes to reduce the role stress plays in brain inflammation and decline.

Simply showing up to your appointments will not be enough to create lasting change—you must do the majority of the work between visits according to Dr. Zielinski’s guidance.

What is functional neurology?

We work with precise types of exercises and sensory input, instead of drugs or surgery, in order to stimulate parts of the nervous system to improve their function. Often, the outcomes of our rehabilitation can be significant, and at times profound. For more information, see the FAQ.

About Dr. Glen Zielinski

Glen Zielinski, DC, DACNB, FACFN practices in Lake Oswego, Oregon, just outside of Portland, with many of his patients flying in from around the continent to be helped with neurological disorders, as well as disorders of movement, balance, and development. Read more about Dr. Zielinski.